SANTA CLARA — Two dogs perished and a home was destroyed in a Thursday afternoon blaze that broke out on a cul-de-sac near San Tomas Expressway, fire officials said.

Crews were called to Quinn Court around 1:30 p.m., and found a “significant amount of fire” that had apparently originated in the rear of the single-story home, said Santa Clara fire Battalion Chief Brandon Merrick.

It took about a half-hour to knock the fire down, and while nobody was home at the time, two dogs were brought out that had succumbed to smoke inhalation, Merrick said.

“They tried resuscitating measures — we carry equipment specifically for dogs, with a mask that fits over the muzzle to deliver oxygen,” Merrick said.

But despite oxygen and chest compressions, neither of the medium-sized dogs could be saved.

Merrick said the family that resides at the home was displaced as the structure is “pretty much a total loss,” but were being housed by relatives who live nearby.

There was no immediate indication of a cause of the blaze, which remains under investigation.

Eric Kurhi is a reporter for the Bay Area News Group based at The Mercury News. He covers Santa Clara County government and general assignment duties. An East Bay native, he has been editing and reporting at local newspapers since graduating from San Francisco State University in 1997.